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Club news - 12/5/8 The 2008 London Rollerski Race Series got off to a strong start yesterday, with 30 competitors making it the biggest field for a (non-GB series) London race in recent years. Temperatures in the region of 30 deg C did not apparently affect the top racers. The lead bunch of 5 circled the track together somewhat tactically, aware of the NE headwind making it hard going up the long climb. Even so they were keeping up an impressive speed, close to 30k per hour on fast rollerskis. There was nothing between them until the final lap, when some small gaps opened up. In the closest finish for some time, international rollerski racer Karolina Bicova, of LRNSC and Liberec, just pipped Adam Guzda to the line. Close behind were Carl Carrier of the RAF and Ivan Gorbenko, one of the club's Russian guests and Alan Eason, slipping in a quick visit to Hayes before heading down under for the winter. Newcomer Adam Guzda - who won the mens' race - is a former member of the Polish biathlon squad. This was not only his first London rollerski race, but also his first time ever on fast rollerskis (a pair of Ski Skett Cobras from our shop). He has been helping out with the rollerski club in Hyde Park, and on the day of the race was the London Region Nordic Ski Club's newest member. The 7.5k race was won convincingly by Yvonne Jacobs, a newcomer to roller ski racing. Second place also went to a female competitior Annabel Bacon of the RAF, who finished just ahead of Jay Hanna, also RAF. So it was a good start to the roller ski season, and race organiser Chris Richards is looking forward to an equally competitive double pursuit race on the 22 June. Congratualtions to Hyde Park / Richmond Park racing newcomers - Yvonne Jacobs, Rachel Buttery, Will Mehta, Jason Gordon, Ian Macleod and David Herman. And to their competing coaches / guest coaches - Mary Wray, Alan Eason, Adam Guzda, Gerard Evans, Ivan Gorbenko, Guerman Mikhailov and Iain Ballentine.
Photo credit: Wojtek |
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